West Aurora handles Bartlett to earn playoff bid
West Aurora (6-2, 3-1) punched its third consecutive ticket to the playoffs after spoiling Bartlett's senior night Friday with a 56-14 victory at Streamwood's Millennium Field.
The Blackhawks welcomed back running back Cameron Donaltan with open arms and he did not disappoint. The West Aurora senior scampered for 4 touchdowns and each of the runs were over 20 yards. Donaltan finished his rushing clinic with 200 yards.
Donaltan had been sidelined with an injury since Week 4.
"The guards were pulling well," said Donaltan. "It's great to have other running backs doing big things on their touches. Our line gives us big holes for explosive plays for me, (Trevon Tittle and Hezekiah Salter). It feels good to (to be back in the playoffs). No one can take it away from us."
Besides Donaltan's day on the ground, the West Aurora rushing effort racked up a collective 371 yards.
The Blackhawks began their day in the end zone midway through the first quarter with an interception snagged by the leaping junior cornerback Reggieon Autman-Suggs who returned his pick for a 75 yard return.
Donaltan was responsible for the following West Aurora touchdowns for 51 and 27 yards respectively.
The Bartlett (2-6, 2-2) offense wouldn't go down without a fight. Junior Hawk wideout Austin Gates connected with junior quarterback Dean Kotsovetis for a jump ball touchdown, tapping his toes in the corner of the end zone. Gates finished the day with 139 receiving yards.
"When they get going you have to give them credit," said Bartlett coach Eric Ilich about West Aurora. "They do their thing and are a high-quality, well-oiled machine. That being said, we have a lot of young inexperienced guys and we're trying to get to where they are. I'm proud of our guys, being able to get some stops. There are a lot of positive things to build on."
West Aurora made one more trip to the end zone after Salter absorbed an 18-yard toss from Blackhawks sophomore quarterback William Tammaru. West Aurora took a 28-14 lead into the locker room.
Bartlett senior Joey Allen wrestled for a 2-yard touchdown late in the second quarter, but the Hawks would not be able to put any more points on the board.
Other West Aurora players that tallied 6-pointers included Salter (113 yards, 2 TDs) and Moshe Rogers. Tammaru finished the day with 2 passing touchdowns.
Geneva hosts West Aurora next week.
"Getting to the playoffs in the third year now, I'm in a good place right now," said West Aurora coach Nate Eimer. "This is the first time we've done this in school history. (Geneva) is a great matchup for week nine. The seniors will be playing hard (from Geneva) because it's their senior night, and we'll be battling for a seed."